Monday, July 1, 2013

Field Trip: Stones River Battlefield

From top left, clockwise: A replica cannon from the museum. Things #1 & 2 out of the battlefield site itself. Things #1 & 2 working on the scavenger hunt in the museum. Thing #3 planning his escape.

It was incredible. The kids got to learn about the Civil War, and the impact it had on the local communities of Middle TN. Some park rangers took the time out to talk to us, including an absolutely riveting talk by a ranger on the why behind the war and the battle itself. The kids learned a lot from it.

They even had a little project worksheet to fill out. We soaked in the museum at a leisurely pace before heading outside to brave the heat on a half mile tour. Looking at some the intact trenches hand-dug by the soldiers was a sobering experience.

Standing on the site itself put things in perspective for us.

It was a neat experience, and one made all the more educational by doing it in a small homeschooling family setting.

Behind the Curtain:

With a scythe in one hand and a rosary in the other, I am trying my best to lead my homeschooling family of five through these crazy times. Our goal: turn our rocky, overgrown 5.4 acres into a flourishing, self-sustaining farm, and become just a wee bit holier while we do it.